Dined: September 2025 -- Couple -- Belated Birthday Dinner
Bottom Line Up Front:
We left incredibly disappointed--not just in the preparation, presentation, and flavor of the food, but even more so that the manager, who knew full well about the problems, never came to our table to acknowledge them. Clearly this restaurant gets it right sometimes, but on our visit, it was nowhere close.
1. Mussels ($16)
The mussels were just okay. I love garlic, but the broth was completely overwhelmed--easily the equivalent of 6-8 cloves of rough-chopped garlic floating in the bowl. Worse, I got one mussel that tasted off, then another, and I had to stop. It's hard to shake that taste once it's in your mouth.
My wife also had a bad one, and we both pushed the dish aside. (You can see in the attached video that most of the mussels were untouched, still in the bowl even after our mains arrived.)
To be fair, mussels are highly perishable, and it's late summer when they turn even faster, so I'll give some grace there. Still, I'd rate them a 2 out of 5.
2. My Steak -- New York Strip ($38)
I made it very clear when ordering: I wanted my steak charred. I repeated it multiple times, stressing that I wanted a very dark char and crust, medium rare. The server confirmed it was cooked on a flame grill--perfect, I thought.
When the plate arrived (via a food runner, not my server--which is fine), my first reaction was shock. I've eaten at many of the world's best steakhouses (Keens, Delmonico's, Hawksmoor, Peter Luger). While I wasn't expecting that level of perfection, for $38 I expected at least a well-prepared steak. Instead, here's what I got:
No char. Not even close.
Partial, faint grill marks that looked careless and uneven.
Meat that was just an ugly gray--completely unappetizing.
The "bourbon butter" compound wasn't spooned neatly as shown on their website photo--it looked like it had been flung across the steak with a fork.
The sauce, which online appeared rich and dark like a demi-glace, was instead tasteless. I even asked my wife to taste-check me, and she agreed.
The steak itself had almost no seasoning. No real salt, maybe a whisper of pepper. The texture wasn't terrible, but it was utterly flavorless.
In short: this steak was a total miss. If the chef cares at all about their craft, I'd challenge them to look at the photo I attached and ask: Would you be proud to serve this plate? Would you put your name on it?
My rating: 1 out of 5.
3. My Wife's Chicken ($26)
Massively overcooked. Videos show the skin nearly blackened, and the meat beneath bone-dry. Cutting into it was like sawing through beef jerky.
The gnocchi had some flavor, but the sauce shown on the online menu photo wasn't there. Instead, it was thick, pasty, and dry.
When our server checked in, I showed her the steak and said directly: "This is nothing like I ordered. Please tell the chef." I told her I wasn't asking for it to be comped, but I did want the kitchen to know.
She confirmed she would let them know, and the manager later confirmed she did notify them.
My wife also showed her chicken--skin blackened, inside dry as dust--and asked the chef to see it.
When I asked for the check, she brought a complimentary chocolate mousse as an apology, which was a kind gesture.
Still, our bill was $105 (with no alcohol), with a $16 tip because I didn't want to penalize the server for the kitchen's failings, and she wasn't the one who delivered our plates. Incredibly frustrating to pay a solid amount of money for this.
Beyond the Food: Service & Atmosphere
A. Staff Wrapping Silver in the Dining Room
By 8:15, my wife and I were trying to salvage our evening, but staff were loudly wrapping silverware and chatting at a nearby 8-top they used as their staging table. In what's supposed to be a fine dining setting, this was tacky, intrusive, and distracting. I get it they want to get out and go home/party/whatever, but don't disrupt the guests who are expecting an elegant and relaxing visit.
B. Management Failure
The next day, I called the restaurant to give management a chance to hear my feedback. A manager called me back, listened, and then casually admitted: "Yes, I was there last night. I saw the chicken and called it out to the kitchen."
So he was fully aware of the disaster unfolding at our table, while we were there--and chose not to say a single word to us. No apology, no explanation, nothing.
That is simply Restaurant Management 101: when something goes wrong, you show your face, acknowledge it, and make the guest feel heard and know you care!
Final Thought:
I've been in this business for over 30 years, and I'll never forget a sign that hung above the wait station in one of the first restaurants I ever worked in:
"Some customers don't get mad. They don't complain. They don't say anything at all as they head out the door. They just walk out... and never come back."
That's exactly how this night felt. One star. read more